Zig-zag sewing machine



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Jan. 3, 1961 E. FISCHER 2,966,869

ZIG-ZAG SEWING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 NVENTOR[FA/ST Asa Jan. 3, 1961 E. FISCHER ZIG-LZAG SEWING MACHINE 8Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 28, 1956 INVENTOR EPNST [7s awn? an. 3, 19 1E. FISCHER 2,966,869

' ZIG-ZAG SEWING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR[ANST 78 can? Jan. 3, 1961 E. FISCHER 2,966,869

ZIG-ZAG SEWING MACHINE I Filed June 28, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 I Jan. 3,1961 E. FISCHER 2,966,869

ZIG-ZAG SEWING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 w my 67INVENTOR [kn/s7 fiscwa? Jan. 3, 1961 E FISCHER ZIG-ZAG sswmc MACHINEFile d June 28. 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 VIII!" III,

IIIIII 'IIII Jan. 3, 1961 E. FISCHER 2,966,869

ZIG-ZAG SEWING MACHINE Filed June 28, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTORfie/v 5867/61? Jan. 3, 1961 E. FISCHER 2,966,869 ZIG-ZAG SEWING MACHINEFiled June 28, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR AZNST 5567/5? 2,966,869Patented Jan. 3, 1961 ZIG-ZAG 'SEWIN G MACHINE Ernst Fischer, Sub],Thuringia, Germany, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to VEB Niihmaschinenwerk Wittenberge, Wittenberge,Germany Filed June 28, 1956, Ser. No. 594,534

33 Claims. (Cl. '112-158) This invention relates to zig-zag sewingmachines for producing variousidecorative and utilitarian sewingoperations by means of a pattern mechanism having at least one carriermember having two or more lifting members, and a cam followerselectively operative with the one or another of the lifting members.

'It is the principal object of my invention to provide an improvedZig-zag sewing machine having pattern mechanism which comprisesrail-shaped lifting members of finite length whose edges provide thepattern, and a following link mechanism having an abutting portion whichfollows along the pattern edge of a selected one of the rail-shapedlifting members. The carrier for the lifting members is preferablycomprised of an angularly dis- .placeable roller in which the liftingmembers are radially arranged and disposed with their axes parallel tothe axis of revolution of the roller.

According to another feature of the invention, and for the purpose ofrepeating the positioning effected by .the lifting members, the carrierfor the lifting members is movably arranged with respect to thefollowing link mechanism. Thus, the following link is fixedly journalledin all directions whereby the whole arrangement is least subject towear.

Preferably, the following link mechanism comprises a revolving memberhaving a reentering drive spiral, said revolving member being arrangedwith its rotational axis parallel to the longitudinal axes of thelifting members. The edge or head of the drive spiral is cooperativelydisposed with respect to a lifting member. For this reason, frictionalwear of the following link mechanism is reduced to a minimum amountheretofore not attainable. Upon rotation of the spiral, always adifferent part of the spiral edge is in engagement with the pertaining"lifting member.

Other objects and structural details of the invention will be apparentfrom the following description when read in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings forming part of the specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front view of the pattern mechanism for controlling thewidth and position of the stitches,

Fig. 1a is a transverse section of the forward portion of the sewingmachine indicating the needle bar,

Fig. 2 is a top view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a modification of the pattern mechanism including mechanism tocontrol the fabric feeding mechanism for the purpose of "making buttonholes, for example,

Figs. 4 through-8 illustrate the individual workingsteps in theformation of button holes,

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the entire pattern mechanism,

Fig. 1-0 is a perspective view of 'a modification of the patternmechanism,

Fig. 11 is a vertical cross-'sectionalview of-the entire patternmechanism,

direction.

Fig. 12 illustrates an auxiliary mechanism for manually controllingstitch position,

Fig. 13 illustrates an auxiliary mechanism for manually controllingstitch width,

Fig. 14 illustrates, in vertical cross-section, the mechanism indicatedin Fig. 10,

Fig. 15 illustrates the drive means for the fabric feed dog,

Fig. 16 illustrates one position of the two grooved links of the drivemeans for the fabric feed dog,

Fig. 17 is a top view of a modified form of revolving member,

Fig. 18 is a side view thereof,

Fig. 19 illustrates still another modification of the revolving member,

Fig. 20 illustrates the cam .disc shown inFigs. 3 and 8 separately inthe five successive sewing operations .illustrated in Figs. 4 through 8for sewing a :buttonhole,

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals denotecorresponding parts throughout the several views, and referringparticularly to Figs. 1 and 21, the numeral 1 indicates a positioninglink member whose reciprocatory motion is imparted to the needle holdingshaft (not illustrated) for controlling the stitch width and stitchposition. The positioning link member 1, at its end remote from theneedle holding shaft, carries a glide member 1a which is in turn carriedin the groove of a longitudinally-grooved connecting link 2. Theconnecting link 2 is pivotally connected at -its upper end on areciprocating member 4 by means of a pin 5. The reciprocating member '4is swingab'ly journalled about a fixed pin 5 and 11S oscillated by meansof a customary three-cornered eccentric 6 driven, for example, by motionimparted from the revolving sewing machine arm shaft 7 byinterconnecting mechanism not illustrated. Control of the stitch widththrough the needle shaft is effected by shifting of the glide member 1ain the grooved link 2. For this purpose an arm 8 comprising a doublelever 9a pivoted at 9 is provided. The lever arm 8 is disposedsubstantially parallel with the positioning link member 1 and isconnected therewith by means of a coupling link '10. Since the groovedconnecting link 2 is substantially perpendicular with the positioninglink member 1, said positioning link member is constrained with respectto axial motion. Control of the stitch position is effected by the leverarm 11 of a double lever 11a pivoted at 12. The arm 11 is disposedsubstantially perpendicular with respect to'the grooved connecting link2 and imparts oscillatory movement thereto .in the .axial A glide member14 is journalled on a pin 13 at the lower end of the grooved connectinglink 2 and opposite the grooved side thereof. The glide member 14 isdisposed in an elongated rectangular opening 15 .at the free end of arm11 (see Fig. 3). For this reason, the stitch position control of thegrooved connecting link .2 likewise depends upon'its constraint withrespect to side ward motion. The double levers "9a, 11a carry rollers:18 and 19 on their other respective arms 16, 17, for which purpose saidother arms are preferably suitably bifurcated at their ends. 'Therollers 18 and 19 are provided with longitudinal grooves within whichthe lifting members 20, 21 are seated. The lifting members 20, 21 areraileshaped and of :finite length andsare-preferably exchangeably fittedin their respective rollers 18, "19. The free edges of thelifting-members .20, :21, determine stitch pattern formation.

:The .revolving member 22 is rotatably positioned between the rollers18,.19, and is-providedwith a single revolution scanningspiral aboutvvits cylindrical 2surfacewhich pattern repeat.

. tions.

.ber 52.

is as long as the rollers 18, 19. The revolving member 22 is so disposedthat its spiral edge 23 abuts against the rail-shaped lifting members20, 21. The rollers 18, 19 in addition are pressed against the revolvingmember 22 by means of respective compression springs 24, 25.

Revolving member 22 is disposed beneath mechanism for advancing itstep-wisely. To this end, the revolving member 22 is provided with agear 26 which is in mesh with a toothed segment member 27 (see Fig. 9The toothed segment member 27 is swingably journalled at 28 and carriesa roller 29. The roller 29 is controlled by an annular eccentric member30 secured to the arm shaft 7. The roller 29 and therewith the toothedsegment member 27 are resiliently urged against the annular eccentricmember 30 by means of a tension spring 31. The size of the connectingstep of the revolving member 22 is dependent upon the number of stitchesin the momentary In order to change the connecting step to that extent,an eccentric 32 in cooperation with the toothed segment member 27 isprovided. By turning the eccentric 32 in the position illustrated inFig. 10, the roller 29 can be brought entirely out of contact withrespect to the cam surface of the annular eccentric member 30.

The rollers 18 and 19 are provided with turning knobs 33, 34,respectively, located at the outside of the sewing machine housing (seeFig. 2). By means of these knobs, the rollers 18 and 19 can be turned sothat the particular lifting members 20, 21 desired from time to time canbe cooperatively positioned with respect to the revolving member 22.Ordinary detent mechanisms are provided for locking the rollers 18 and19 in their respective posi- Thus, the stitch position of the needleholding shaft is controlled by the roller 18, while the roller 19controls the stitch width.

If necessary, the pattern mechanism can also be made to control thefabric feeding mechanism (see Fig. 15). In this instance, a secondrevolving member 36 is rotatably journalled beneath the revolving member22, said second revolving member being likewise formed with a singlerevolution scanning spiral (see Figs. 3, 11). The spiral edge 37 of therevolving member 36 is cooperative with the rail-shaped lifting members35 which are fitted in a third roller 39. The roller 39 is carried by alever 40 which is swingably journalled with respect to a pin 41. Theouter end of the lever 40 is linked with a positioning link member 42which drives the fabric feeding mechanism. The roller 39 is disposedbetween the interconnecting position of the positioning link member 42and the pivotal point at pin 41. The lever 40 and therewith the roller39 are pressed against the revolving member 36 by means of a compressionspring 43. The fabric feed dog 35 rests upon the usual eccentric 44which effects the timed perpendicular lifting action of said dog (seeFig. 15). The fabric feed dog 35 is linked to an oscillatory levermember 46 which has one end journalled at pin 45. The oscillatory linkmember 46 is connected by an interconnecting link 47 to the free end ofa link member 48 which is driven from a cam 56 fixed upon the arm shaft7.

The interlinking position 51 of the connecting links 47, 48 ispositionally guided by means of a sliding block disposed in the grooveof a longitudinally-grooved link mem- The member 52 is swingablydisposed with respect to a fixed pin 53, i.e., fixed with respect to thesewing machine mechanism housing. A second longitudinally-grooved linkmember 54 is disposed next to the grooved connecting member 52, saidsecond grooved link member being angularly displaceable with respect toa fixed pin 55. The grooved link member 54 is provided with an uppertoothed segment 56 in mesh with a spiral worm 57 or similar gearengaging structure, the latter being disposed upon a shaft 58 having oneend extending through to the outside of the machine housing and carryinga hand lever in the form of a turning knob 59, for

example. The two grooved link members 52 and 54 are joined by a couplinglink 60, said coupling link 60 being linked with grooved link member 52at its upper end by means of a pin 61. The other end of the couplinglink 66 is provided with a slide block guided in the grooved link member54. The coupling link 60 is held in its uppermost position by means of atension spring 62. The posi tioning link member 42, which is connectedat its upper end with the lever 40 associated with the roller 39, islinked at its lower end at an intermediate position on the coupling link60 and thus operates upon the coupling link 60 (see Fig. 3). Uponrevolution of the revolving member 36, the positioning link member 42 ismoved up and down and thereby, through the coupling link 60, changes theangular position of the grooved link member 52, whereupon thereciprocatory movement of the fabric feed dog 35 vertically actuated bythe eccentric is changed as required. The grooved link member 54 has thefunction of effecting only the basic control of the longitudinal orreciprocatory motion of the fabric feed dog 35. In the position of thecoupling link and with the grooved link member 52, as illustrated inFig. 15, the fabric feed dog 35 is operative to provide the greatestforward stepping motion or feed of the fabric, and with their positionsaccording to Fig. 16, the greatest rearward stepping motion is imparted.

The driving motion of the lower revolving member 36 is derived from theupper revolving member 22, and for this purpose the revolving member 22is provided with a gear 26 which is in mesh with a gear 63 associatedwith the rotating member 36 (see Fig. 9). Each gear 26 and 63, moreover,is rotatably disposed on the respective axle 64, of its associatedrotating member. Each of the axles 64, 65 has fixed thereon a connectingratchet wheel 66, 67, respectively, cooperatively engaged with pawls 68,69 pivoted on the gears 26, 63, respectively. Swinging motion of thetoothed segment member 27 in the di rection of the arrow, for example,produces clockwise turning motion of the gear 26, and counterclockwisemotion of the gear 63. Therefore, upon advancement of the upperrevolving member 22, the lower revolving member 36 remains still. Whenthe toothed segment member 27 swings to the left, the upper revolvingmember 22 remains at rest while the lower one is advanced. This is forthe reason that the two gears 26, 63 are moved in opposite directionswith respect to each other, whereby the two pawls 68, 69 arealternatively operative. Such action is also desired, since the stitchwidth and stitch position control of the needle necessarily must beaccomplished when the needle is in removed position with respect to thefabric, while presetting of the fabric feeding mechanism must beaccomplished while the needle is in the material.

It is desirable to provide means for controlling the stitch widthmanually. To this end and in accordance with Fig. 13, the double lever9a is controlled by eccentric 70. The eccentric 70 operates on aradially shiftable pin 71 slidably disposed within the sewing machinehousing. The outwardly directed end of the pin 71 abuts against the hubend of arm 17 of the double lever 9a. The eccentric 70, as can best beseen in Fig. 11, is located at the inner end of a tubular shaft 72 whichextends through the sewing machine housing at its other end, where it isfitted with a manual operating lever 73. Upon turning the control lever73, the eccentric 70 can be set to vary the stitch width as desired fromtime to time. When using the above-described manual control, it is ofcourse necessary that the roller 19 be moved to an inoperative position.For this purpose, for example, a lifting member 21 may be left out ofthe roller 19 at one position. The roller 19 is then turned to thisposition with respect to its revolving member 22. The tubular shaft 72is revolvable about the axle 64 of the revolving member 22. Thus themachine can also be set for uni- .form sewing stitch.

A similar mechanism is provided for'manually controlling-the stitchposition. To this end and as illustrated in Fig. 11, there is coaxiallydisposed within the tubular shaft 72 a second tubular shaft 74. Theinside end of the second tubular shaft 74 carries an eccentric 75 whichis cooperatively disposed with respect to a radially shiftable pin 76slidably disposed within the sewing machine housing. The pin 76 operatesagainst the hub of the arm 16 of the double lever 11a. Fixed upon theouter end of the tubular shaft 74, is a manually operable lever 77. Therevolving shaft 74 is thus carried directly by the shaft 64 of therotating member 22. The use of the eccentric 75, of course, depends uponthe roller 18 being first brought to an ineffective position, asdescribed above with respect to the roller 19. V

In addition to the eccentrics 70 and 75, a cam disc 78 is also provided,said cam disc being disposed at the inner end of a tubular shaft 79. Thetubular shaft 79 surrounds the tubular shaft 72 and carries at its outerend a manually operable lever 80 which serves for controlling specialstitch designs, button holes for example. For this purpose, the cam disc78 has about its periphery a :series of grooves behind one another foreffecting the various stitch widths, the various stitch positions andfor controlling the fabric feeding mechanism associated with the fabricfeed dog 35. Radially shiftable pins 81, '82 :and 83 (see Fig. 3) arealso provided slidably disposed in the sewing machine housing andcooperative respectively, with these three cam disc grooves. The pin 81controls stitch position, the pin 82, stitch width and the pin 83,movement of the fabric feeding mechanism. The manual control lever -80can be stationed at four :positions, represented by the broken lines 0,I, II and 111 (see Figs. 3 and 20) :for the purpose of forming buttonholes. With the manual control lever 80 in position I, a forward-goingsatin stitch as indicated at 84 in Fig. 4 is first sewn. Thereafter, themanual control lever 80 is set to position II to produce the first crossstitch 85, as indicated in Fig. 5. Upon next setting the manual controllever 80 at position III, the rearward-going satin stitch, indicated at86 in Fig. 6, is sewn. Thereafter the lever 80 is set again at positionII in order to sew the second cross stitch 87, as indicated in Fig. 7.With the manual control lever 80 at position 0, the button hole issecurely-finished by the sewing of a few regular'stitchcs 88 as in Fig.:8. Naturally, when using the button hole mechanism as described above,it is necessary that the third roller 39 be placed in an inoperativeposition 'by means of the knob 89 (Fig. 11).

In accordance with a modification of my invention, it is also possibleto replace the above-described cam disc 78 by three individual cam discs90, 91 and 92 axially arranged behind one another and preferablyintegrally formed (see Fig. 14). The cam disc portions 90 and 91 servefor stitch Width and stitch position control respectively, and the camdisc portion 92 for control of the fabric feeding mechanism. It isfurther possible to couple the cam disc portions 90, 91 and 92 with therevolving member 22 for thepurpose, for example, of mechanicallyreproducing the button hole of Figs. 4 through 8. To this end, the camdiscs 90, 91 and 92 preferably are moved inwardly as differentiated fromthe cam disc 78 of Fig. 11. The eccentric 70a for controlling stitchwidth and the eccentric 75a for controlling stitch position are locatedin front of the cam discs 90, 91 and 92. In this instance, the tubularshaft 74a of the eccentric 75a surrounds the tubular shaft 72a of theeccentric 70a. The shaft 64a of the revolving member 22 is arranged tobe axially displaceable and is provided with three annular grooves 93,94 and 95 which serve to fix the axial position of the shaft 64a bycooperation with a detent mechanism 96. A tubular turning shaft 79a forthe cam disc portions 90 and .92 are disposed on the end of the shaft64a opposite the turning end thereof. A manual control lever 80aissecured on the free end of :the tubular shaft 79a. Similarly, thetubular shafts 72a and 74a are prosided with manual control levers 73aand 77a, respectively. The shaft 64a is formed, approximately centrallyalong its length, with a band or increased diameter portion 97 having aradially-projecting key 98. The cam discs 90, 91 and 92 have an axialkeyway 99 within which the key 98 is cooperatively disposed. For thisreason, the cam discs 90, 91 and 92 are turned together with the shaft64a no matter in which axial position the shaft 64 may be placed. Theannular ends of the band 97 are provided with coupling teeth indicatedat 100 and 101 respectively. Similar teeth are provided at the annularedge of a bushing 102 which carries the connecting gear 66a. Therevolving member 22a is secured to the bushing 102 by means of a screw103. Similar teeth 104 are provided at the inner end of the tubularshaft 7%. In Fig. 14, the shaft 64a is shown at the end position to theright. In this position, the shaft @411 is coupled with the bushing 102of the revolving member 22a through the coupling teeth 101, andtherefore derives the stepwise advancing motion from said revolvingmember. The movement of the revolving member 22a is carried over the key98 to the cam discs 90, 91 and 92. If the shaft 74 is moved to itsleft-hand end position, the coupling gear teeth 100 and 104 will thenbecome enmeshed. In this instance, the tubular shaft 79a is coupled withthe shaft 6% so that now the cam discs 90, 91 and 92 can be turned bymeans of the manual control lever 80a fixed to the outer end of saidtubular shaft.

The cam disc portions 90, 91 and 92 can be turned to their beginningposition, for example, by means of the knob 105 secured to the rear endof the shaft 64a. For this purpose, the front end head 106 of the shaft64a is preferably provided with an index mark. The revolving member 22aof course is also moved to the beginning position at the same time.

The invention as particularly described above naturally can be modifiedin various particulars. For instance, the revolving members could beconstructed of a plurality of cam discs 107 piled one against the otheras illustrated in Figs. 17 and 18. In this instance, the cam discs 107are mounted in angularly displaced relationship with respect to oneanother so that their working partsfollow one another spirally. Thisexample is fundamentally also a spiral-formed revolving member. Afurther modification of the invention is shown in Fig. 19, however,wherein there is illustrated a revolving member in the form of a camdisc 108 whose rotational aixs extends at right angles with respect tothe longitudinal axes of the lifting members 20, 21. The cam disc 108preferably is provided with two or more cam portions 109 peripherallyarranged so that one each successively revolves into working positionwith respect to the revolving members 20, 21. The motion transfer linkmechanism, moreover, need not have any revolving members at all. Aspiral arm could alternatively be provided, arranged for pendulousmovement about a fixed pivot point. This axis of the spiral membercould, with respect to the example illustrated in Fig. I, be mountedbelow the axes of the revolving members 18 and '19 and in parallelrelation with respect to the arm shaft '7. The lever at the end of thelifting members 20 and 21 would then describe an arc. For this reason,it is preferable to correspondingly curve the rail-shaped liftingmembers 20 and 21.

Figs. '9 and 11 indicate the arrangement of the pins '71, 76 and 81 to83 and their cooperation with cam discs 70, 75 and 78. All of the pinsare housed in a casing 110 which is partially broken away as indicatedin Fig. 9.

The cam discs 70 and 75 actuate one pin each, .forfexample, pins 71 and76, respectively, which serve for adjusting the Width of a stitch andthe position of .a stitch. Cam disc 78 is associated with three pins 81to '83 which are radially offset vAll of the control movements which arenecessary for the button holes are taken ofi the cam disc 78. The camdisc 78, therefore, controls the width and the position of a stitch, aswell as the advancement mechanism for feeding of the fabric. Cam disc 78is secured to the tubular shaft 79 which is connected to the manualcontrol lever 80. By means of the control lever, cam disc 78 can bemoved into position 0, I, II, III (see Fig. 3).

The two cam discs 70 and 75 only serve for changing the width and theposition of a stitch by hand. Each of these discs 70 and 75 is connectedby means of tubular shafts 72 and 74, respectively, with manual levers73 and 77, respectively. The width and the position of a stitch can bechanged independently of automatic operation by turning the manuallevers 73 and 77. Pins 71 and 76, which scan the periphery of discs 76and 75, transmit their movement onto shafts of rollers 18 and 19 whichare lengthened for this purpose (see Figs. 12 and 13). The two rollers18 and 19 have to be brought into an inoperative position for thatpurpose. A neutrallifting body or one which has a front face parallel tothe axis of the roller and which is of such a height that it cannotimpart any control movement to the rollers 18 and 19 is used for thispurpose.

From Fig. 9 it can be seen that drive connection exists between therevolving members 22 and 36 and the ratchet wheels 66 and 67,respectively. Ratchet wheels 66 and 67 are arranged in pairs offset byby half a division in order to provide a gradually controllabletransmission of the movement. Wheels 66 and 67 are loosely mounted onthe axial of the associated gears 26 and 63, respectively, and areconnected therewith by pawls 68 and 69. Both ratchet wheels areconnected by a groove and wedge connection. The gears 26 and 63 arelossely mounted on shafts 64, 65, respectively and are driven by thesegment piece 27. The ratchet wheels 66 and 67 transmit their movementto revolving members 22 and 36 with which they are securely connected bymeans of their interlocking shapes.

In Fig. the arrangement of the cam housing 110a can be seen. This camhousing is within the housing of the machine. The position of pins 71a,76a, 81a, 82a and 83a are indicated in the housing 119a.

In Fig. 23 there is illustrated the possibility of coupling a collar 97on the shaft 64a either with a series of cam discs 90 to 92 or with asleeve 102. It should be noted that Figs. 10 and 23 illustrate a secondembodiment which corresponds in principle to the embodiment in Figs. 9and 11.

The arrangement of the cam housing 110a and the machine housing shown inFig. 9 is the same as that shown in Fig. 11. However, in the cam housing110a the cam discs are arranged in different order as compared to theone shown in Fig. 11. The cam discs 76a and 75a again serve for changingthe position and the width of the stitch. Adjustment is brought about bymanually operated levers 73a and 77a, respectively. Instead of theoriginal first cam disc 70 according to Fig. 11, from which movementscontrolling the severing of the button holes are taken, in Fig. 9 thereare three individual cam discs 96 to 92 which are combined in a cam discpackage. Each of the cam discs 90 to 92 is assoicated with a pin 61a,82a and 83a and they are axially adjustable in a conventional manner inthe cam housing 110a.

By the cam discs 99 to 92 the width of the stitch, its position, and thefabric feed are all controlled. The member 111 which is connected totubular shaft 7% serves as a stop for the cam discs 70a and 75a whichare urged toward the member 111 by the compression spring 112. The discs79a and 75a and the member 111 with the associated tubular shafts 72,74a and 7911 are arranged on a continuous shaft 64a which has a collar97. Collar 97 engages its wedge 98 in a correspondingly shaped groove 99of the cam disc package 90 to 92 so that the latter is always connectedfor movement with the shaft 64a.

The shaft 64a is axially adjustable and can be brought 'into threepositions of engagement 93, 94 and 95. Collar 97 has at both flankscoupling teeth 100 and 101, respectively, which are alternately inengagement with corresponding coupling teeth 104 and 113. These lattercoupling teeth 194 and 113 are in member 111 and in sleeve 162,respectively. By the alternating engagement of coupling teeth 160 and101, it is possible to rotate the package of cam discs 90 to 92 by meansof the manually operated lever a, in the left hand position ofengagement 95. In the right hand position of engagement 93, however, thediscs to 92 are brought into driving connection with sleeve 192 which issecured to the drive wheel 66 and which obtains its drive movementthrough gear 26 from the segment 27. The segment 27, gear 26 and theratchet wheel 66 are behind the arm in the present embodiment. In thisarrangement, gear 26 is loosely rotatable on sleeve 192. The drivetransmission from gear 26 onto ratchet wheel 66 is brought about againby a pawl 68 which is on the gear 26. Sleeve 102 is likewise looselyrotatable on the shaft 64a. In the center position of engagement 94,collar 97 has no drive connection and is consequently put at resttogether with the cam disc package 90 to 92. In this embodiment, thearrangement of the second revolving body 36 and the rollers 18, 19 and39 is made in the same manner as is for the one shown in Fig. 11.

While I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, it isunderstood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration onlyand that various omissions, or changes in shape or proportion andarrangement of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalent elementsfor those herein shown and described, may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appendedclaims.

What I claim is:

1. In a Zig-zag sewing machine having a longitudinally reciprocatableand laterally movable needle bar, the combination comprising asubstantially cylindrical carrier member having a plurality of finitelongitudinally elongated lifting members spaced around the circumferenceof said carrier member, each lifting member having differentlongitudinal edge configurations including outstanding and recessedportions of outlines specific to a particular sewing pattern, means forrotating said carrier member to present a select one of saidlongitudinal members in an operative position, a follower mechanismhaving a sweeping spiral member in contact with the selected one of saidlongitudinal edge configurations of said lifting members when in anoperative position, means for rotating said spiral member, mountingmeans for said carrier member and follower member to permit relativemovement therebetween in directions substantially perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of said lifting member, said needle control meansconnected to said needle bar and to either said carrier member or saidsweeping spiral member, and responsive to the relative movement betweensaid carrier member and said sweeping spiral member as said sweepingspiral member moves in contact with said lifting member to control thelateral movement of said needle bar during its reciprocation.

2. A zig-zag sewing machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidfollower mechanism comprises a cam member having its rotational axisarranged at right angles with respect to the longitudinal axes of saidrail members.

3. A Zig-zag sewing machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein saidfollower mechanism comprises a cam member having its rotational axisarranged at right angles with respect to the longitudinal axes of saidrail members, said cam member having a plurality of cam projections,only one at a time of which is in cooperative abutting engagement withthe edge portion of the selected one of said rail members during saidpattern scanning.

4. Azig-zag sewing machine in accordance with claim 1 including aswinging member, revolving eccentric means for actuating said swingingmember, a grooved structure carried by said swinging member, a slideblock positioned 9" in said grooved structure, reciprocating mechanismfor controlling stitch width connected with said slide block foractuation by said swinging member, and means controlled by said widthcarrier member to control the position of said slide block in saidgrooved structure.

5. A zig-zag sewing machine in accordance with claim 4 wherein saidslide block position controlling means comprises a centrally pivotedlever, one end of said lever being connected with said width carrier formovement together therewith, wherein said reciprocating mechanismcomprises an elongated positioning link member, the other end of saidcentrally pivoted lever being disposed substantially parallel with saidpositioning link member, and an interconnecting link between said otherend of said centrally pivoted lever and said positioning link member ata point intermediate the ends thereof.

6. A zig-zag sewing machine in accordance with claim 1 including aswinging member, revolving eccentric means for actuating said swingingmember, a grooved structure carried by said swinging member andangularly displaceable with respect thereto in the direction of swingingthereof, a slide block positioned in said grooved structure,reciprocating stitch controlling mechanism connected with said slideblock for actuation by said swinging member, and means controlled bysaid positioning carrier member to control the angular disposition ofsaid grooved structure with respect to said swinging member.

7. A zigzag sewing machine in accordance with claim 6 wherein said meansfor controlling the angular disposition of said grooved structurecomprises a centrally pivoted lever, one end of said lever beingconnected with said positioning carrier for movement together t.erewith, wherein said reciprocating mechanism comprises an elongatedpcsitioning link member, the other end of said centrally pivoted leverextending substantially perpendicularly with respect to said groovedstructure and being cooperatively connected therewith.

8. A zig-zag machine in accordance with claim 1 including a fabricfeed-carrier member, a cam follower mechanism operative to positionallycontrol said feed carrier member, a vertically reciprocable fabric feeddog, and means controlled by motion of said feed carrier member forcontrolling the feed stepping action of said feed dog.

9. A zig-zag sewing machine in accordance with claim 8 wherein saidfollower mechanisms each comprises a revolving structure, and gear meansinterconnecting said revolving structures so that one is rotationallydriven by the other.

10. A zig-zag sewing machine in accordance with claim 8 wherein each ofsaid follower mechanisms comprises a revolving structure having acentral shaft, a pair of intermeshing gear Wheels, one each rotationallymounted on one each of said shafts, a gear section meshed with one ofsaid gear Wheels and operative to drive said gear wheels reciprocatinglyin opposite directions, and ratchet means interconnecting said gearwheels with said revolving structures to alternately advance saidrevolving structures.

11. A zig-zag sewing machine in accordance with claim '8, including arotating sewing machine arm shaft, an annular eccentric member fixed tosaid shaft, said gear sector being swingably supported at one end andcarrying a roller cam follower in cooperative engagement with saidannular eccentric member, and means for controlling the duration ofcooperative engagement between said roller cam follower and said annulareccentric member during each cycle of operation thereof for varying theamplitude of reciprocatory motion of said gear sector.

12. A zig-zag sewing machine in accordance with claim 11 wherein saidengagement controlling means comprises an eccentric member operative tolimit the reciprocatory motion of said gear sector in the annulareccentric engaging direction.

13. The zig-zag sewing machine in accordance with claim 8 wherein saidfeed carrier controlled means comprises a swingably mounted memberhaving a longitudinal groove, a first slide block in said groove, linkmeans interconnecting said feed dog with said slide block, a pivotedgrooved member spaced from said swingably mounted member, means forcontrolling the angular position of said pivoted grooved member aboutits pivotal axis, a second slide block slidably mounted in the groove ofsaid pivoted grooved member, a link member interconnecting said secondslide block and said swingably mounted member for effecting swingingaction thereof, resilient means operative to urge said link member inone direction, and abutment means controllable for limiting the movementof said link member in the direction opposite said one direction.

14. The zig-zag sewing machine in accordance with claim 13 including arotating arm drive shaft, an eccentric fixed on said drive shaft, and aconnecting rod between said eccentric and said first slide block.

15. The zig-zag sewing machine in accordance with claim 13 wherein saidangular position controlling means comprises an arcuate toothed sectorportion on pivoted grooved member, a rotatable toothed member inmeshwith said sector, a positioning shaft connected with said rotatabletoothed member and extending outside of the sewing machine housing, anda manually controllable knob on the outside of said positioning shaft.

16. A zig-zag sewing machine in accordance with claim 1 including asewing machine housing, a cam rotatably mounted Within said housing,said cam being fixed to a control shaft extending outside of saidhousing for manually turning said cam, a pin slidably journalled in saidhousing and actuated at one end by said cam, the other end of said pinbeing in engagement with said carrier member for controlling stitchposition in accordance with the rotational position of said cam.

17. A zig-zag sewing machine in accordance with claim 1 including asewing machine housing, a pair of cams rotatably mounted within saidhousing, one for each of said carrier members, each of said cams beingfixed to a control shaft extending outside of said housing for manuallyturning their respective earns, a pair of pins slidably journalled insaid housing, each being actuated at one end by one each of said cams,the other end of each of said pins being in engagement with one each ofsaid carrier members for the position thereof in accordance with therespective rotational positions of said cams.

18. A zig-zag sewing machine in accordance with claim 1 including afabric feed carrier member, a cam disc rotatably mounted within saidhousing, said cam disc being fixed to a control shaft extending outsideof said housing for manually turning said cam, three pins, one for eachof said carrier members, slidably journalled in said housing andcooperative with said cam disc along different portions of the camperiphery thereof, said three pins each having one end in abutment withone each of said carrier members for the positioning thereof inaccordance with the rotation-a1 position of said cam disc, and meanscontrolled by the positioning of said cam members for controlling stitchformation.

19. The zig-zag sewing machine in accordance with claim 18 wherein saidcam disc is provided about its cam periphery with a plurality of campositions for each of said cooperative pins, whereby, upon stepwiserotational control of said control shaft, corresponding successivestitching operations, such as required in the formation of button holes,for example, can be effected.

20. The zig-zag sewing machine in accordance with claim 18 wherein saidcam disc is comprised of three individual cams arranged in a series,each of said pins being co-operative with one each of said individualcams, each of said individual cams being provided with a manuallycontrollable shaft for independently controlling the stitch position,stitch width and fabric feed of a sewing op eration. I

21. The zig-zag sewing machine in accordance with claim 20 wherein saidfollower mechanism comprises a rotatable cylindrical structure andincluding coupling means between said cylindrical structure and saidcams for cooperative rotation thereof.

22. The zig-zag sewing machine in accordance with claim 20 wherein saidmanually controllable shafts are concentrically arranged and areprovided at their ends with control levers arranged in an axial series,said control levers being so fixed with respect to their individualshafts, and said individual cams being so formed that when said leversare positioned in mutual radial alignment, said cams will be ineffectivewith respect to the positioning of said carrier members.

23. The zig-zag sewing machine in accordance with claim 22 wherein saidfollower mechanism comprises a revolvable cylindrical structure coaxialwith the said concentrically arranged shafts, motive power means, andmeans controlled by axial movement of said cylindrical structure in onedirection or the other to selectively control rotational actuation bysaid motive power means of said cylinder structure and one of said cams.

24. The zig-zag sewing machine in accordance with claim 22 includingaxially shiftable shaft means for setting said cylindrical structureselectively at an axial position intermediate said one or otherdirections, and means controlled by the setting of said cylindricalstructure in said intermediate position and the rotation of saidshiftable shaft for actuating said cylindrical structure independentlyof said one of said earns.

25. In a zig-zag sewing machine having a longitudinally reciprocatableand laterally movable needle bar, the combination comprising a carriermember having a plurality of finite longitudinally elongated liftingmembers mounted thereon in spaced locations, each lifting member havinga different longitudinal edge configuration including outstanding andrecessed portions of outlines specific to a particular sewing pattern,means for moving said carrier member to present a select one of saidlongitudinal members in an operative position, a follower mechanismhaving a sweeping spiral member in contact with the selected one of saidlongitudinal edge configurations of said lifting members when in anoperative position, means for moving said spiral member backwardly andforwardly along the length of said lifting member while in contacttherewith, mounting means for said carrier member and follower member topermit relative movement therebetween in directions perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of said lifting member, and needle control meansconnected to said needle bar and to either said carrier member or saidsweeping spiral member, and responsive to the relative movement betweensaid carrier member and said sweeping spiral member as said sweepingspiral member moves in contact with said lifting member to control thelateral movement of said needle bar during its reciprocation.

26. A zig-zag sewing machine in accordance with claim 25 wherein saidcylindrical spiral member is comprised of a plurality of cam discs piledone upon another, said cam discs being so mutually angularly disposedthat their cam portions follow in screw-like order.

27. In a zig-zag sewing machine according to claim 25, wherein saidcarrier member comprises a rotatable cylindrical roller, said railmembers being radially spaced on said roller with their longitudinalaxes parallel with the rotational axis of said roller, said followermechanism having a sweeping spiral portion including a contact pointshiftable along a line parallel with said longitudinal axes, and whereinsaid carrier member is rotatable to alter the lifting member which isplaced in an operative position.

28. In a zig-zag sewing machine according to claim 25, wherein saidfollower mechanism includes a. rotatable spiral member.

29. In a zig-zag sewing machine according to claim 25, wherein saidcarrier member is movable in directions substantially perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis of said 12 lifting member and said followermechanism includes a spiral member rotatably mounted on a fixed axis.

30. In a zig-zag sewing machine having a longitudinally reciprocatableand laterally movable needle bar, the combination comprising a carriermember having at least one longitudinally elongated lifting membermounted thereon, said lifting member having a longitudinal edgeconfiguration including outstanding and recessed portions of aconfiguration specific to a particular sewing pattern, means forpositioning said carrier member to present said longitudinal member inan operative position, a follower mechanism having a sweeping spiralmember in contact with the longitudinal edge configurations of saidlifting member when in an operative position, means for moving saidspiral member backwardly and forwardly along the length of said liftingmember while in contact therewith in an operative position, mountingmeans for said carrier member and said follower member to permitrelative movement therebetween in directions toward and away from thelongitudinal axis of said lifting member, and needle control meansconnected to said needle bar and to either said carrier member or saidlifting member, and responsive to the relative movement between saidcarrier member and said lifting member as said sweeping spiral membermoves in contact with said lifting member to control the lateralmovement of said needle bar during its reciprocation.

31. In a zig-zag sewing machine having a longitudinally reciprocatableand laterally movable needle bar, the combination comprising a stitchpositioning control carrier member, a stitch width control carriermember, each of said carrier members having a plurality of finitelongitudinally elongated lifting members mounted thereon, said liftingmembers having different longitudinal edge configurations includingoutstanding and recessed portions of a configuration specific to aparticular sewing pattern, means for moving each of said carrier membersto present corresponding selected ones of said longitudinal members inoperative positions, a common follower mechanism including a sweepingspiral member having outstanding portions in contact with thelongitudinal edge configurations of respective selected lifting memberswhen in an operative position, means for rotating said spiral member inits location between said carrier members whereby to move said spiralmember backwardly and forwardly along the length of the operativelifting members of each of said carrier members, mounting means for saidcarrier members to permit relative movement of said carrier members withrespect to said follower member in directions toward and away from thelongitudinal axes of said lifting members, and needle control meansconnected to said needle bar and to said stitch width control carriermember and responsive to relative movement between said stitch widthcontrol carrier member and said sweeping spiral member as said sweepingspiral member moves in contact with said lifting members to control theamplitude of lateral movement of said needle bar during itsreciprocation whereby to control the stitch width, said needle,

control means being connected to said needle bar and to said stitchpositioning carrier member and responsive to relative movement betweensaid stitch positioning carrier member and said spiral member as saidsweeping spiral member moves in contact with said lifting member tocontrol the position of said needle during its lateral movement andreciprocation.

32. In a zig-zag sewing machine having a longitudinally reciprocatableand laterally movable needle bar, the combination comprising a carriermember having a plurality of finite longitudinally elongated liftingmembers mounted thereon in spaced locations, each litfing member havinga different longitudinal edge configuration including outstanding andrecessed portions of an outline specific to a particular sewing pattern,means for moving said carrier member to present a select one of saidlifting members in an operative position, a rotatable follower mechanismhaving an outstanding portion in contact with the selected one of saidlongitudinal edge configurations of said lifting members when in anoperative position and movable along the length of said lifting member,means for rotating said follower mechanism to cause said outstandingportion to move backwardly and forwardly along the length of saidlifting member while in contact therewith, mounting means for saidcarrier member and follower member to permit relative movementtherebetween in directions perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ofsaid lifting member, and needle control means connected to said needlebar and to one of said carrier member and said follower mechanism andresponsive to the relative movement between said carrier member and saidfollower mechanism as said follower mechanism moves in contact with saidlitfing member to control the lateral movement of said needle bar duringits reciprocation.

14 33. In a zig-zag sewing machine according to claim 32, wherein saidfollower mechanism includes a rotatable disc having at least oneoutstanding portion in contact with said lifting member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS158,596 McCune Jan. 12, 1875 671,680 Parkes Apr. 9, 1901 1,338,074 Eameset al Apr. 27, 1920 2,018,456 Jonas Oct. 22, 1935 2,653,557 Casas-Robertet al Sept. 29, 1953 2,755,754 Urscheler July 24, 1956 2,832,302 GegaufApr. 29, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 516,704 Belgium Ian. 31, 1953 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATION OF CORRECTION Patent No. 2,966,869January 3, 1961 Ernst Fischer It is hereby certifiedthat error appearsin the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the s aidLetters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 9, line 54, for "sectionfread sector column 10, line 22, before"pivoted" nsert said line 46, for "position" read positioning Signed andsealedthis 4th day of July 1961.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER DAVID Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

